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Cigar Review: 1502 Emerald Torpedo

10 Dec 2012

In September, it was announced that Emilio Cigars would assume distribution of Global Premium Cigars (GPC), a Nicaraguan-based boutique headed by Enrique Sánchez Icaza.

“I am delighted to be able to help another boutique manufacturer benefit from our existing shipping and billing facilities, and even happier we were able to make this arrangement with a dear friend,” said Griffith in a press release. Sánchez Icaza shared similar sentiments, calling Griffith “a true friend, great entrepreneur, and a great cigar guru.”

With their agreement in place, you can expect to be hearing more from GPC, including reviews of the company’s three blends: Emerald, Ruby, and Black Gold. Each is sold under the “1502” name, commemorating the year Christopher Columbus discovered Nicaragua.

The 1502 Emerald is intended to be the lightest in the GPC portfolio (Black Gold is the strongest) with a “subtle strength” achieved through tobaccos from San Andrés, Estelí, and Condega. The Torpedo (6.5 x 52) sells for $6-8 apiece and sports a clean, golden wrapper with a sharp cap and faint pre-light notes of hay and caramel. The foot is semi-closed and the feel is moderately firm with no soft spots.

The profile is airy, a little salty, and leaves a fair amount of dry spice on the lips. Decidedly mild—both in terms of body and nicotine output—some sweet notes come and go throughout. Coffee and earth are in the foreground. But the 1502 Torpedo lacks the flavor components I often look for in a milder smoke, including cream and nuts. Instead, especially when puffed rather quickly, it displays hints of bitterness.

Construction-wise, it performs impeccably. The burn is straight with no need for touch-ups, the white ash holds well off the foot, and the draw is smooth and clear from light to nub.

I smoked two 1502 Emerald Torpedos for this review and found both to leave something to be desired in the flavor department, even though I’ve long been a fan of cigars from the milder spectrum. Perhaps the Ruby or Black Gold blends from GPC will be more up my alley. For my taste, though, I can’t see myself actively seeking out the Emerald Torpedo in the near future. It earns two and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

2 Responses to “Cigar Review: 1502 Emerald Torpedo”

  1. SmokesandSteel.com Monday, December 10, 2012 at 5:10 am #

    Eek, sounds like a Bahia Blue- disappointing.

  2. Robert Monday, May 6, 2013 at 5:40 pm #

    I found this cigar to be a very nice cigar as mild cigars go. The 1502 Emerald by Enrique Sanchez. A hidden gem! http://cigarassessor.blogspot.com/2013/05/1502-em